Foundation Programme Training in General Practice in the East of England

The Foundation Programme is part of the continuum of medical education. It is the only point in medical training common to all UK medical students and doctors. It ensures that newly qualified doctors demonstrate their ability to learn in the workplace and develop their clinical and professional skills in readiness for core, specialty or general practice training.

This website and FAQs are intended to help practices that supervise Foundation Year 2 doctors or trainees (F2). Many of you will be experienced teachers of GP specialty trainees or medical students, for others this may be a new undertaking. All practices are different and can provide a unique learning experience. The website provides a framework to build upon and adapt to suit your circumstances. It draws upon similar guides provided across Health Education England and national guidelines and directives, which can be found at:

Broadening the Foundation Programme was published in February 2014 and states that all Foundation Year 2 doctors should undertake a community placement or integrated placement from August 2017.

F2 trainees are seconded to practices, for four-month placements, by their employing Trust, with the contract of employment remaining with the host organisation. The aim of the placement is to give the F2 doctor a meaningful experience in general practice with exposure to the patient in the community, as well as gaining an understanding of the interface between primary and secondary care. Experience in general practice will contribute towards the F2 doctor achieving the competences required for completion of the Foundation Programme.

- The programme is trainee led

- Experience of the primary-secondary interface is important

- There is a programme of assessment which the trainee organises

- The trainee engages in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and becomes familiar with the process of life-long learning in their professional life

- The programme is organised by the Foundation School, and a network of Educational and Clinical Supervisors support the trainees’ activities and under-pin the Foundation Programme philosophy

- Supervisors and trainees are trained in the use of the assessment tools and the Foundation Programme activities

The Health Education East of England Foundation team aim to provide a four-month placement in General Practice for half of F2 trainees.